DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee's (DMTN) commitment to protecting the environment is evident through success stories, awards and partnerships.  One example is the effort by the company's associates in 1999 to embark on EcoVision 2005, a program designed to show sustained environmental improvements by the end of 2005.  Their results were outstanding: 

• 85% reduction in landfill waste (from 2812 tons in 1999 to 427 tons in 2005)
• 254% increase in cardboard recycling (from 584 tons to 2,065 tons)
• 37% reduction in water usage (from 83 million gallons to 52 million per year)

Associates have received recognition from many groups, including the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (setting the pace in Tennessee among businesses as one of the first to reach the top tier honor), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Little River Watershed Association, Tennessee-Kentucky Water Environment Federation and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their environmental efforts during this period. 

DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee's environmental management system has been ISO 14001 certified since 1998. The company has developed numerous joint projects with federal and Tennessee EPA and became one of the first manufacturers to join the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Service Volunteer Cleanup Partnership with park rangers.

DENSO MANUFACTURING TENNESSEE'S KEY ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Environmentally, DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc., has garnered numerous major state, regional and local awards throughout the company's history.

• 2007 Keep Blount Beautiful Community Cleanup Award
• 2006 Keep Tennessee Beautiful Certificate of Merit
• 2006 East Tennessee Regional Clean Air Coalition Award
• 2005  Blount County Environmental  Achievement Award
• 2005 Regional Transportation Planning Organization Award
• 2005 First Annual Regional Clean Air Coalition Air Care Award
• 2005 Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Hazardous Waste
• 2004 Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association Pretreatment Excellence Award (the company received a separate city of Maryville award for 10 consecutive years of winning this award)
  1. The Air Quality Award was given after DMTN initiated the North American Integrated Logistics (NAIL) project to consolidate and coordinate shipments among 15 North American DENSO group companies and their suppliers. This project has reduced  vehicle miles by more than nine million miles per year, preventing 66 tons of nitrogen oxides to be emitted into the air annually.
  2. The Water Quality Award was given for a modification at the DMTN Starter/ Alternator  Plant, which has reduced 22 million gallons of water per year since 1999. This effort  resulted in a savings of 8,000 gallons per day, or a 77% reduction in water usage.
  3. Both companies also won three certificates of achievement for efforts at reducing landfill waste
• 2004 Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Hazardous Waste Management Award
• 2004 Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry's top "Excellence Award"
• December 2003 -- DENSO became the second company in the state of Tennessee to achieve the top level (Performer Level) in the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) Program. The program is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
• October 2003 -- Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented awards to DENSO for air-quality and water-quality. The awards were given to DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee and DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (Athens separated from DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee in April 2003).
• June 2003 -- Little River Watershed Association Award (community award) for contributions to Blount County's environment.
• May 2002 -- Industrial Pollution Award from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The city of Maryville nominated DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee. Only three other Tennessee companies qualified for the honor. Companies must show they clearly exceed regulatory requirements and must be role models for industrial-pollution prevention efforts.  DMTN achievements in wastewater treatment and reduction, recycling, and landfill diversion were recognized as exemplary.
• October 2001 -- Environmental Achievement Award from the Tennessee Association of Business (TAB). The award was presented in Nashville during the 19th annual TAB Environmental Seminar. TAB recognizes accomplishments of manufacturers in the areas of air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management and recycling. DENSO earned the award for making modifications in the discharge of acid waste to the wastewater pretreatment facility. Nearly 50 companies compete.
• April 2000-2002 - Commendation from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Service  to DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee for being one of the first manufacturers to join the Volunteer Cleanup Partnership with park rangers.
• April 2002 -- Cades Cove Preservation Society honored DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee for a company donation that assisted the society's special restoration and preservation effort in the cove, one of the most visited areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.